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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2011 GMC Acadia Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2011 GMC Acadia has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 269 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized GMC dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2011 GMC Acadia, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2011 GMC Acadia owner complaints

Owners have filed 269 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 GMC Acadia, describing incidents dated October 18, 2010 to May 1, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Steering 64 complaints
  • Engine 56 complaints
  • Electrical System 47 complaints
  • Exterior Lighting 38 complaints
  • Power Train 33 complaints
  • Air Bags 19 complaints

Of the 269 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 10 a fire; across all 269 complaints, owners report 11 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11736860 · Filed

    The relay for the fan at the top of the fuse/relay box on the right side when facing the front of the vehicle. (under the hood) Gets hot and blows the relay and melts the spot where the relay prongs plug in. Causing the need for a new fuse box and circuit problems within the fuse box connectors. The…

  • ODI #11707460 · Filed

    We purchased the vehicle on August 20, 2025. At which time we paid over $4,800 for the vehicle. I will be trying to submit all files pertaining to the vehicle. We are both disabled and on the fixed income from ssi. However, a week after purchasing the vehicle all issues began to rise up. There was…

  • ODI #11683502 · Filed

    Unknown

Read all 269 complaints

Owner-reported

2011 GMC Acadia mileage at failure

206 of the 269 complaints on file for the 2011 GMC Acadia give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
SteeringMedian 60,000 milesMiddle half 50,000–100,000 milesBased on 51 complaints
Electrical SystemMedian 75,000 milesMiddle half 50,000–100,000 milesBased on 32 complaints
Exterior LightingMedian 60,000 milesMiddle half 50,000–85,000 milesBased on 33 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2011 GMC Acadia in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Side Curtain Air Bags May be Unsecured

NHTSA #21V246000 · Air Bags — Critical Fasteners · NHTSA notice

Reported April 8, 2021 · General Motors, LLC

Potentially affected: 108 vehicles

Repair completion: 50% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign N202321200 · Owners notified May 24, 2021

Defect description

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.

Safety consequence

Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Liftgate Struts may Fail and Liftgate may Fall

NHTSA #15V415000 · Structure — Body — Hatchback/Liftgate · NHTSA notice

Reported June 30, 2015 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 691,144 vehicles

Repair completion: 79.59% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 15240 · Owners notified November 15, 2016 · Vehicles built September 15, 2006 – March 9, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.

Safety consequence

If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Flexible Steel Cable for Seat Belt may Fail

NHTSA #14V266000 · Seat Belts · NHTSA notice

Reported May 20, 2014 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 1,339,355 vehicles

Repair completion: 87.36% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 14187 · Owners notified July 11, 2014 · Vehicles built April 9, 2008 – May 14, 2014 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through May 14, 2014, Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured June 6, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured April 9, 2008, through May 14, 2014, and 2009-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured April 14, 2008, through March 18, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seatbelt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue and separate over time.

Safety consequence

If the steel cable becomes fatigued and separates, the seatbelt may not properly restrain the seat occupant increasing the risk of an injury in a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair and replace the lap pretensioner, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. An interim notice will be mailed to owners in July 2014. A second notice will be mailed to owners once parts become available. The recall for the 2009-2010 model years began on July 11, 2014. The interim letter for the 2011-2014 model years were distributed on July 11, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-462-8782 (GMC), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14187.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Side Impact Air Bags Wiring Connections

NHTSA #14V118000 · Air Bags — Side/Window · NHTSA notice

Reported March 17, 2014 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 1,176,407 vehicles

Repair completion: 90.55% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 14030 · Owners notified June 16, 2014

Defect description

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Safety consequence

Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.

Manufacturer remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM NUTS

NHTSA #12V151000 · Visibility — Windshield Wiper/Washer — Linkages · NHTSA notice

Reported April 9, 2012 · GENERAL MOTORS LLC

Potentially affected: 47,846 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 12036 · Owners notified April 27, 2012 · Vehicles built May 27, 2011 – June 1, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, BUICK ENCLAVE, AND GMC ACADIA VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. SNOW OR ICE BUILDUP ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPER MAY RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, CAUSING THE WIPER ARM TO LOOSEN AND CAUSE THE WIPER TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Safety consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE WIPER ARM NUTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 20, 2012.

Notes

GM’S SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 12036. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Other GMC Acadia model years

Check your 2011 GMC Acadia VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your GMC Acadia at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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